Morning links: A rare caught stealing

Ryan Braun's CS ended an ignominious streak for Padres

San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera can't handle the throw as Milwaukee Brewers' Carlos Gomez steals second during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 21, 2014, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera can't handle the throw as Milwaukee Brewers' Carlos Gomez steals second during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 21, 2014, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

MILWAUKEE  When Rene Rivera thwarted Ryan Braun's attempted steal in the fifth inning Monday, an ignominious streak came to an end for the Padres.

San Diego had come into the game a combined 0-for-17 in catching opposing base-stealers. Monday, besides Braun's caught stealing, the Brewers were successful in two other attempts.

While the Padres' pitchers have kept them in nearly every game, a sputtering offense has rendered the margin for error razor-thin. The team's lack of success thus far in holding baserunners falls more on the arms on the mound than the ones behind the plate; collectively, for example, the pitchers have yet to sufficiently vary their hold times.

For their careers, Rivera, Yasmani Grandal and Nick Hundley have thrown out a combined 28 percent of would-be base-stealers.

In today's U-T

Andrew Cashner faltered for the first time this season, and his offense couldn't pick up the slack in a 4-3 loss to the Brewers.

Notes: Cameron Maybin seems likely to join the Padres sometime during their current road trip, Carlos Quentin will begin running on the field this week, and Anthony Carter signs with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.